Thanks, Mitton. Aside from the last one, that's my favorite, too.
Wes, I've often made similar comparisons, but it's funny you bring that up with this species, in particular. With these, it's actually considered good form to refer to them informally as the
American Five-lined skink, in order to differentiate between them and your own Five-lined skinks (both
quinquetaeniata and, especially,
margaritifera.) Regarding their scutellation, they're actually very smooth scaled. I know their scales are pretty wide and pointy, and they look for all the world like they
should be keeled, but they're actually as smooth as glass.
" a squat, scaly worm with, 'don't touch,' on one end and, 'that's why,' on the other."
-Thomas Palmer